Lidl Northern Ireland ‘kickstarts’ growth for 17 local food and drink suppliers

2025 Lidl Northern Ireland Kickstart Suppliers pictured at Millbank Farm, Killinchy.

Back Row (L-R) Peter Barrett, Steeper Culture; Dr. Ryan Morrow, WeBottle; Gary McIldowney, Slim’s Healthy Kitchen; Alison Seaney, Big Pot Co.; Paul Gibson, McKee’s Foods

Middle Row (L-R) Karen Boyd, Pizzado; Shane McKinney, Amore Treats; Matthew Bingham, Tasty Foods Cusine; Nicky Jackson, Jackson Roze; David McCluggage, Portillas Cafe Ltd.

Front Row (L-R) Chris Bell, WeBottle; Michael Bell, Executive Director, Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA); Kate O’Driscoll, Supplier Development Manager at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland; Lauren Gilligan, McAtamney's Gourmet Kitchen

Lidl Northern Ireland has announced its largest-ever intake of local food and drink producers to its Kickstart Supplier Development Programme, with 17 small and medium enterprises set to benefit from expert mentoring, business support, and the opportunity to supply 229 Lidl stores across the island of Ireland.

Backed by the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA), the Kickstart Class of 2025 will embark on a six-month journey designed to scale up their operations and refine every aspect of their product, packaging, and business model, culminating in a potential store rollout in September 2025.

Now in its eighth year, the Kickstart initiative has seen Lidl Northern Ireland invest over £4 million, showcasing more than 50 innovative products and supporting 45 homegrown producers.

The 2025 cohort features a wide array of exciting brands and offerings – from artisan dog treats to gluten-free baking and ginger health shots.

Among this year’s successful entrants are:

• Al Gelato – a Belfast-based gelato brand from the Ormeau Road

• New Found Joy – a Lurgan-based artisan bakery specialising in gluten-free goods

• The Doggie Pawtisserie – offering luxury treats for dogs

• Dukes Ultra-Premium Ice Cream – a farmhouse ice cream brand born during lockdown

Kate O’Driscoll, Supplier Development Manager at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland, welcomed the new participants:

“Kickstart is more than just a route to shelf – it’s a springboard for growth, and this year’s record intake in Northern Ireland is a testament to the talent, innovation, and quality coming from Northern Ireland’s food and drink producers.

“Our experts work hand-in-hand with each supplier to offer tailored mentoring on production, packaging, marketing and scaling – helping them unlock their potential and futureproof their business.”

Products set to appear in stores from September include scotch eggs, ready meals, sauces, ginger shots, and even sleep pillow sprays made with Irish lavender – reflecting a growing demand for diverse and innovative local goods.

Hellbent: A kickstart success story

The Kickstart programme has already produced notable success stories. Hellbent, a brand co-founded by Ulster Rugby players Louis Ludik and Schalk van der Merwe, secured a place on the programme in 2021. Since then, they have grown to achieve a permanent listing and expanded into over 800 Lidl stores across the UK and Ireland.

“Joining the Kickstart programme was truly transformative for Hellbent,” said Louis Ludik.

“We had the passion and product but needed guidance on scaling a retail business. The mentorship helped us refine everything from production processes to packaging and marketing strategy.”

Hellbent’s Chakalaka Boerewors, blending bold South African flavours with locally sourced meat, has become a customer favourite.

Supporting the NI Economy

Michael Bell OBE, Executive Director of NIFDA, praised the initiative’s economic impact:

“As our largest manufacturing sector, food and drink plays a critical role in Northern Ireland’s economy – supporting some 113,000 jobs and contributing £8 billion annually.

“Congratulations to all 17 successful candidates – their success is a positive indicator of the strength and diversity of our industry.”

The initiative also supports local economic growth beyond the programme. In 2023, Kickstart alumni Holmes Bakery received a £200,000 contract from Lidl Northern Ireland, enabling them to expand their workforce and range across 40 stores.

In 2024 alone, Lidl Northern Ireland procured £530 million in goods and services from local suppliers – underlining the retailer’s commitment to Northern Ireland’s agri-food and business sectors.

2025 Lidl Northern Ireland Kickstart suppliers include:

• Al Gelato (County Antrim)

Achill Island Sea Salt and Pistachio Gelato

• McAtamney's Gourmet Kitchen (County Antrim)

BBQ Pulled Pork

• Slim’s Healthy Kitchen (County Antrim)

Healthy ready meals (Sticky chicken, Korean chicken, Soy and Ginger chicken, Jerk Chicken)

• Tasty Foods (County Antrim)

Flavour-packed sauce pastes (Chinese curry paste, Chinese gravy paste)

• Jackson Roze (County Armagh)

Ginger Shots (Elderberry, ginger and turmeric)

• Taboo Bakery – Amore Treats (County Armagh)

White iced school cakes

• New Found Joy (County Armagh)

Mini Treats

• Bakers Wee Buns (County Armagh)

Traditional jam bakes

• McKee’s Scotch Eggs (County Derry~Londonderry)

Gourmet scotch eggs

• Fidela Coffee (County Derry~Londonderry)

Premium ground and whole bean coffee

• Pizzado (County Down)

High Protein Pizza bases

• Steeper Culture (County Down)

Ginger and lemon kombucha and cherry and lime sparkling tea

• The Doggie Pawtisserie (County Down)

Artisan dog treats (peanut and banana, carrot, and sweet potato)

• We Bottle (County Down)

Sleep Sound Pillow Spray (lavender, lavender & lemon balm), Sleep Sound Serenity Balm lavender

• Dukes (County Tyrone)

Ultra-premium ice cream (Chocolate Brownie, Raspberry Ripple)

• Summer Garden Foods (County Tyrone)

Homemade garlic toastie

• Big Pot Co. (County Tyrone)

Beef Stew

The Kickstart Class of 2025 will now begin their tailored development programmes, preparing to launch products into Lidl stores later this year.

For more information about the Kickstart programme, visit: www.lidl-ni.co.uk/kickstart